Hartland's three archery teams all finished in the top 20 of their divisions in the national tournament as Shelby Simonds won her grade level and finished fifth in the high school division by winning a dramatic shoot out.

Simonds, a 17-year-old Hartland High School junior, defeated a girl from Trigg County High School in Kentucky, considered a perennial power in archery, 48-46 before a crowd of more than 2,000 in Louisville, KY. Her finish gave the Eagles their second podium finish in three years as the program also captured the tournament's spirit award for the third straight year in a tournament where 7,000 archers and hundreds of teams competed on Friday and Saturday.

"I just told myself I was going to win and I did," said Simonds of her best finish in five years of competition. "I just stayed calm and focused on my form, not the score."

Hartland coach Rob Jellison said he's proud of Simonds' performance.

"All eyes were on her and she was fantastic," he said.

Program progress

Jellison said the team results are the best yet in four yearsa at nationals for the teams. The high school team finished 16th and did better than the two Michigan teams that finished ahead of the Eagles at the state tournament. The finish also was 100 points and 20 places higher than 2010.

The middle school team finished 11th out of more than 100 teams, improving 90 points and from 19th last year. The elementary school team finished 14th out of 78 teams, 31 points higher than last year when the team was 22nd.

The program's third spirit win reflected the team's sportsmanship as well as a large contingent of parents who cheered and banged thundersticks to support the Eagles throughout the tournament, Jellison said.

Overall, Jellison said Hartland's program is gaining ground on the national powerhouses from states such as from Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio.

"It was a great year," he said. " We keep making progress. … We're gaining of them. We're right on their heels."

Key to the progress is the development of younger archers where Hartland continues to excel with more than a dozen at the elementary and middle school level making the top 100 over the weekend. For example, two younger standouts are brother and sister, Chris and Emily Bee, who finished 16th and 58th in their respective divisions, Jellison said.

"They are going to be on the podium before they graduate," he predicted.

New target

Simonds said the ability to concentrate is critical to success.

"I blocked everything out," she said as she scored 290 out of 300. "I didn't hear the thunderstorm going on (outside)."

Such focus helps her ease stress from the typical high school pressures, such as homework and high school drama among girls.

"I love archery," she said. "Just to shoot and compete is amazing. It's an amazing feeling to win, too."

Simonds said she is aiming to shoot even better next year, with first place in her sights at the upcoming world tournament in October and a national championship next year.

"I was only three points from the first place winner," she said, adding she's shot even higher in practice.

Results:

Other high school archers competing were:

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Other elementary school archers competing were: